SAN ANTONIO — UTSA played from behind most of the fourth set, battled through 11 ties and overcame a late three-point deficit to defeat UTEP in four sets (25-10, 25-17, 19-25, 27-25) on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
After a dominating first two sets and losing in the third, the Roadrunners (9-7, 5-0 C-USA) slowly worked themselves back into rhythm. UTSA had to rally twice in the fourth and overcome a costly miscue that could have tied the score.
At the 24-21 mark, in favor of UTEP, the Roadrunners answered back with three straight points, including a pair of blocks from Megan Slan, Marijeta Runjic and Dajana Boskovic. A Talia Jones kill gave the Miners set point, 25-24, but was followed by a kill from Boskovic to knot the score at 25-all. Back-to-back kills from Runjic and Boskovic secured the win and helped keep the Roadrunners perfect in Conference USA.
Boskovic tallied a match-high 20 kills, seven of which came in the first set, along with nine digs and a block. Runjic added 13 kills and three blocks, while Dempsey Thornton registered 11.
Two-time C-USA Setter of the Week, Jessica Waldrip registered her ninth contest of 40-plus assists with 41 and was two digs shy of a double-double with eight.
UTEP’s (2-14, 0-5) first set total was the third lowest allowed by the Roadrunners this season. UTSA took the first set 25-10 and hit .438 on 16 kills and 32 swings. The Roadrunners were hot of the gate as they began the frame on a 10-1 run before the Miners were able to put a score on the board. Thornton served six of the 10 points by UTSA.
In the second set, each team traded points before a Slan kill at the 6-6 mark gave way to a 6-0 run by the Runners. UTSA never looked back and took the second frame 25-17.
Out of the intermission, the Miners rallied and managed to fend off the Roadrunners in the third to take the set 25-19. Jones and Dominique Millette combined for nine of the team’s 14 kills in the third stanza.
Jones also paced the Miners with 14 kills, along with a pair of aces, digs and blocks.
The Roadrunners will hit the road next weekend for a pair of contests against Louisiana Tech on Friday, Oct. 10, and UAB on Sunday, Oct. 12.